Method and apparatus of managing application workloads on backup and recovery system

Abstract

Featured are a method and apparatus for managing various point-in-time copies of workloads or applications using a software system called workload manager. An aspect of the invention is to receive backup images of point-in-time backup images of workload from a backup client and realize corresponding virtual resource from backup image on the cloud platform that is part of the workload manager appliance. Workload manager maintains catalog of point-in-time copies of workloads. Each item in the catalog refers resource entries on the cloud platform. When user wishes to instantiate a point-in-time copy, workload manager instantiates all the resources identified in the catalog entry. User can also restore a particular point-in-time workload to production system or migrate a particular point-in-time workload to remote application.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for backing up cloud-based applications, the method comprising:
 capturing a snapshot of a distributed cloud-based workload comprising (i) one or more virtual machines, (ii) one or more storage volumes, and (iii) one or more network configurations, wherein the one or more network configurations define interconnectivity among the one or more virtual machines and the one or more storage volumes; 
 identifying differences between the snapshot and at least one prior snapshot; 
 storing only the identified differences between the snapshot and the at least one prior snapshot as an incremental image; 
 hydrating the distributed cloud-based workload using the at least one prior snapshot to form an existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload by reconstructing on a backup appliance: (i) a virtual machine for each virtual machine in the at least one prior snapshot, (ii) a storage volume for each storage volume in the at least one prior snapshot, and (iii) a virtual network for each network configuration in the at least one prior snapshot; and 
 applying the incremental image to the existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload, thereby forming a current point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distributed cloud-based workload comprises a first virtual machine. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising quiescing the first virtual machine prior to capturing the snapshot, and resuming the first virtual machine following capturing the snapshot. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snapshot is captured by a backup client executing on a hypervisor external to the distributed cloud-based workload. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snapshot comprises one or more data files, the method further comprising streaming the one or more data files over a network to a remote data store. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more data files are streamed to the remote data store using a representational state transfer (REST)-ful application programming interface. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incremental image is applied on a backup appliance connected to one more workload computing systems via a network. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the incremental image to an existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload comprises applying applicable incremental changes to virtual machines, storage volumes, and virtual networks in the existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating an entry in a workload manager database corresponding to the current point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload. 
     
     
       10. A system for backing up cloud-based applications, the system comprising:
 a backup client for:
 capturing a snapshot of a distributed cloud-based workload comprising (i) one or more virtual machines, (ii) one or more storage volumes, and (iii) one or more network configurations, wherein the one or more network configurations define interconnectivity among the one or more virtual machines and the one or more storage volumes; 
 identifying differences between the snapshot and at least one prior snapshot; and 
 storing only the identified differences between the snapshot and the at least one prior snapshot as an incremental image; and 
 
 a backup appliance for:
 hydrating the distributed cloud-based workload using the at least one prior snapshot to form an existing point-in-time copy by reconstructing on the backup appliance: (i) a virtual machine for each virtual machine in the at least one prior snapshot, (ii) a storage volume for each storage volume in the at least one prior snapshot, and (iii) a virtual network for each network configuration in the at least one prior snapshot; and 
 applying the incremental image to the existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload, thereby forming a current point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the distributed cloud-based workload comprises a first virtual machine. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the backup client quiesces the first virtual machine prior to capturing the snapshot, and resumes the first virtual machine following capturing the snapshot. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the backup client executes on a hypervisor external to the distributed cloud-based workload. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the snapshot comprises one or more data files, and wherein the backup client streams the one or more data files over a network to a remote data store. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more data files are streamed to the remote data store using a representational state transfer (REST)-ful application programming interface. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the backup appliance is connected to one more workload computing systems via a network. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10 , wherein applying the incremental image to an existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload comprises applying applicable incremental changes to virtual machines, storage volumes, and virtual networks in the existing point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the backup appliance creates an entry in a workload manager database corresponding to the current point-in-time copy of the distributed cloud-based workload.